Guitar Modes Cheat Sheet

Guitar Modes Cheat Sheet Ver 0.1. Written by Norio De Sousa. Copyright © 2007 GuitarModes.co.za GuitarModes.co.za.. All Rights Reserved. Reserved.

Application Practising Your Modes First things first, you need to practise all your modes as much as possible. The easiest and most intuitive way to do this comes as a suggestion from Joe Satriani. Play an open E (or use a single-note backing track) and then play each modal scale over that. Keep at it and, eventually, you will come to understand the relationship between each note of each mode of the major scale and it’s root (tonic) note. Once you’ve practised your modal scales in this way, you can move on to playing them over songs in a specific modal key or playing the correct mode over each chord in a composition as briefly outlined below.

Songs in a Modal Key If you take the notes of any mode of the major scale and you play those notes as chords, you will have created a song in a modal key. Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien” is a classic example of this type of composition. Once you know the Modal Key of a song, you can simply solo over it using that Modal scale. This is a good place for beginners to start their adventure.

Modal Scales Played Over Specific Chord-Types The Jazzier approach to using modes is to play the corresponding modal scale over each chord in a song. As a quick example, you could play “A Aeolian” or “A Dorian” over an “A minor” chord. The reason for this is that an “A Minor” chord is made up of the 1st, flatted 3rd and 5th intervals of the major scale. If you look at either the Aeolian or Dorian modes, you will find that they both contain a flatted 3rd, giving them a “minor sound”. Please refer to the links at the end of this eBook for further reading on the subject.

Personal Taste & Preference While I’m trying my best to provide a useful resource for learning the modes of the major scale in a guitarist’s context, there is no right and wrong when it comes to music. “If it sounds right, then it probably is.” – Meir Taitz (South African Virtuoso & Music Teacher) Some people say that the Dorian mode sounds melancholy. I say it makes a ripping rock n roll mode to play in! Some people say that the Ionian mode always sounds happy. I say it can sound like anything you want it to! It depends wholly on your application of the mode, the sequence of the notes and, all-in-all, your entire composition. So take this book or cheat-sheet merely as a guide to get you going. Once you’re familiar with each mode, try your damndest to break ALL of the rules (even if the result sounds terrible) because music isn’t based on rules. We created rules to help us understand music but music, itself, comes from self-expression. Express yourself and you will find people that enjoy whatever it is that you create. That’s art. That’s life. Enjoy! Norio De Sousa

Ionian Mode Number:

1st – First

Formula:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Intervals:

W W H W W W H

Sound & Special Characteristics:

The Ionian mode is the “natural” mode of the major scale and has a happy sound.

Songs You Might Know:

Fits Over These Chords:

Queen Don’t Stop Me Now Starship We Built This City Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Maj, Maj7

Dorian Mode Number:

2nd – Second

Formula:

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

Intervals:

W H W W W H W


The Dorian mode is the Rock ‘n’ Roll mode of the major scale. It’s flatted 3rd gives it a minor sound, perfect Pop, Rock and even some Blues.



Michael Jackson Billie Jean Pink Floyd Another Brick in The Wall Metallica One Min, min7 & min9

Phrygian Mode Number:

3rd – Third

Formula:

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Intervals:

H W W W H W W


The Phrygian mode has a minor sound but it’s flatted 2nd and 6th give it a particularly darker sound, better suited to metal and alternative rock.

Songs You Might Know: Fits Over These Chords:

Steve Vai For The Love of God Metallica Wherever I May Roam (solo) Min, min7

Lydian Mode Number:

4th – Fourth

Formula:

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

Intervals:

W W W H W W H


The Lydian mode is very much like the Ionian except that it has a sharped 4th, giving it a more exotic and mysterious sound.


Joe Satriani Flying in a Blue Dream (mostly) Steve Vai The Riddle Maj7, maj7#11

Mixolydian Mode Number:

5th – Fifth

Formula:

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

Intervals:

W W H W W H W


The Mixoydian mode is very much like the Ionian except that it has a flatted 7th and is often used in place of the Ionian mode.


ACDC Back in Black Guns n Roses Sweet Child o Mine 7th, 9th, 13th

Aeolian Mode Number:

6th – Sixth

Formula:

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Intervals:

W H W W H W W


The Aeolian mode is also known as the natural minor scale. It’s the saddest of all modes and is used in blues, rock ballads, hymns and many other styles of music.


Andy Timmons Cry For You Gary Moore Still Got The Blues Min, min7, min9

Locrian Mode Number:

7th – Seventh

Formula:

1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

Intervals:

H W W H W W W


The Locrian mode is mostly used in Jazz and VERY heavy metal mainly because of the dissonance created between the mode and its corresponding chord.


Used mostly within songs but not as the basis for a whole song.


Maj7b5

Credits Got a correction to make? If you can back up your claims with facts and provable theory, I’ll list your name in the credits andyou’re your option), link to your web site. All constructive criticism is welcomed.

Guitar Modes Cheat Sheet

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